BTheol Bachelor of Theology Old Testament 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Old Testament book records the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai?
- Exodus (Correct answer)
- Leviticus
- Genesis
- Numbers
Correct answer: Exodus
Exodus 20 records God giving Moses the Ten Commandments (Decalogue) at Mount Sinai, the foundational ethical code of the Mosaic covenant.
Question 2: What was the primary function of the Levitical priesthood in ancient Israel?
- To mediate between God and the people through sacrificial worship (Correct answer)
- To govern the military campaigns of Israel
- To write and preserve the law scrolls
- To collect taxes for the Temple
Correct answer: To mediate between God and the people through sacrificial worship
The Levitical priests served as mediators offering sacrifices, managing the tabernacle/temple, and pronouncing blessings according to the Torah.
Question 3: Which Old Testament genre includes books such as Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes?
- Wisdom literature (Correct answer)
- Apocalyptic literature
- Historical narrative
- Prophetic literature
Correct answer: Wisdom literature
Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes are classified as wisdom literature, which reflects on human experience, suffering, ethics, and the meaning of life under God.
Question 4: The Babylonian exile of Judah began under which Babylonian king?
- Nebuchadnezzar II (Correct answer)
- Cyrus the Great
- Darius I
- Belshazzar
Correct answer: Nebuchadnezzar II
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquered Jerusalem in 586 BC, destroying the Temple and exiling much of Judah's population to Babylon.
Question 5: In Old Testament theology, 'hesed' (lovingkindness/steadfast love) is primarily used to describe what?
- God's covenant loyalty and faithful love toward Israel (Correct answer)
- The ritual purity laws of Leviticus
- The military strength of the Davidic kings
- The wisdom of Solomon's court
Correct answer: God's covenant loyalty and faithful love toward Israel
'Hesed' describes God's enduring, covenantal loyalty—faithful love that transcends obligation—and is a central attribute of God in the Psalms and Prophets.
Question 6: Which prophet was known as the 'weeping prophet' for his lamentations over Jerusalem's destruction?
- Jeremiah (Correct answer)
- Isaiah
- Hosea
- Micah
Correct answer: Jeremiah
Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet because of his deep sorrow over Judah's sin and the destruction of Jerusalem, also reflected in the book of Lamentations.